The Bossier banner., 1887-10-13
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
There are 100000 mon engaged
in the building trades in the United
States.
The cost of the recent coke strike
to the men and operators is estimated
at 81, 900. 900.
"A physician living near the sea
says that during the past five years he
has noted the hour and minute of death
in ninety-three patients, and every one
has gone out with the tide, save four
who died suddenly by accident
1t is reported that rich American
is about to establish a paper factory at
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. with capital
of at least 100000. The principal ma
terial used will be "lechugilla," a
fibrous plant which grows abundantly
in that section.
About midway between st. Peters
burg and Moscow, Prince Putiatin has
made the important archaeological dis
covery of an image of the constellation
of Ursa Major engraved on grindstone
of the Stone Age. A similar discovery
had already been made near Wellmar
in Germany.
What is termed flexible glass is a
useful product just introduced. Paper
of proper thickness is rendered trans
parent by soaking in copal varnish, and
when dry. is polished, rubbed with
pumice stone, and a layer of soluble
glass is applied and rubbed with salt.
The surface is as perfect as glass;
Boston Budget.
"A new plant, said to have electrical
properties, is described by some of the
German journals under the name oi
Phytolacca electrical ut gives slight
electric shock to the hand when its
stalk is broken. and it affects the mag
netic needle, disturbing it considerably
if brought very near. its energy varies
during the day, being strongest at
about two o o'clock in the afternoon, and
fading away to nothing at night. IN.
Y. Ledger.
| Though electrical storage batteries
have attracted attention only within
the past seven years, the discovery o.
the principle is as old as the century.
Gausherot having first noticed in 1901
that platinum or silver wires gave of
current after being disconnected
from voltaic battery with which they
had been used for decomposing saline
water. The first secondary cell o.
Plante was made in 1860.-ArEansau
Traveller.
"A universal competitive exhibition
Of science and industry will open al
Brussels, Belgium. May l, 1888, and
continue six months. Fifty-six com
mittees representing all industries ani
various specialties, have framed ques-
tions whose solution forms the basis o.
competition. Medals, diplomas ant
800, 600 in cash will be awarded to ex
hibitors, who are given special induce
ments by the Belgian government ir
the way of transportation, management
and duties.
I'm nearly every department oflegit
innate industry greater or less improve.
ment is observed in comparison will
the like number of many preceding
years. Lumber, coal. petroleum, ant
cotton fabrics are conspicuous for thei
steadiness through the usual season o
midsummer dullness. Railroad earn
ings gained fifteen per cent. in June
and fifty roads show an increase of III
per cent. for the first week of July
Money has become more plentiful al
the metropolis, but the daily dealings
in Wall street are small and quotation
ag upon the slightest provocations.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
-Bradstreet's has unique statisti
in the presentation Of its strike recort
for six months, from which it appear
that at various times during the frs
half of the year laborers have been OF
strike to the total number of 234, 734
against 1863. 895 for the same period las
year. The number of strikes was So
to 200, so that the strikes have beer
more numerous, but have involves
much fewer numbers than last year
The number Of employees in the build
ing trades who have been on strike
$4,000, in transportation service 81, ,00C
L